Phymatolithon lenormandii

Phymatolithon lenormandii
Scientific classification
Clade:	Archaeplastida
Division:	Rhodophyta
Class:	Florideophyceae
Order:	Corallinales
Family:	Hapalidiaceae
Genus:	Phymatolithon
Species:	P. lenormandii
Binomial name
Phymatolithon lenormandii (Areschoug) W.H.Adey

Phymatolithon lenormandii is a common red alga.

Description

Phymatolithon lenormandii is a thin alga growing encrusting as a thin flat chalky thallus clearly without branches. The thallus grows to 0.6 mm ^[1] thick with a smooth surface. In colour it is mauvish or pinkish ^[2] like a thin painted surface forming a patchwork when meeting other incrusting algae. ^[3]

Habitat

Common, epilithic on rock and shells in the literal and sublittoral to a depth of 30m, growing best in shady sites. ^{[2] [4]}

Reproduction

Monecious or dioecious with conceptacles, carpospogonia and tetrasporangial conceptacles forming raised chambers. ^[2]

Distribution

Common around Ireland, Great Britain, Isle of Man and the Channel Isles. ^[5] In Europe it is recorded from Norway to the Mediterranean. World-wide from Canada USA Mexico, Japan and southern America. ^[2]

References

1. Newton, L. 1931 A Handbook of the British Seaweeds. British Museum
2. Irvine M.Irvine and Chamberlain, Y.M. 1994 Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 2B Corallinales, Hildenbrandiales The Natural History Museum, London ISBN   0113100167
3. Bunker, F.StP. D., Brodie, J.A., Maggs, C.A. and Bunker, A.R. 2017. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland Second Edition.p34 Wild Nature Press, Plymouth . ISBN   978-0-9955673-3-7
4. Dickinson, C.I. 1963 British Seaweeds The Kew Series
5. Hardy, F.G. and Guiry, M.D. 2003. A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. British Phycological Society, ISBN   0952711516